Gigs & Nightlife

A Mamma Mia-themed bottomless brunch is returning to Manchester

The Manc The Manc - 7th January 2022

A bottomless brunch event celebrating all things Mamma Mia is making a return to Manchester this year.

The Dancing Queen Brunch will be back with ABBA tunes from a tribute band, a themed quiz, and fancy dress.

It’s inspired by the smash-hit stage musical and film, which starred Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Amanda Seyfried.

Musical brunch events have now been announced throughout the year, including Christmas specials.

Each one will invite people to whip out their best ABBA and Mamma Mia fancy dress, from flares to feather boas to dungarees, for a huge celebration.

ADVERTISEMENT
Credit: Universal Pictures

A live band will perform all the hits – expect renditions of Dancing Queen, Super Trouper and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Ticket-holders will also have their ABBA knowledge tested with a themed quiz, with prizes for the winners.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alongside the entertainment will be brunch dishes like Nutella and berry pancakes, smashed avocado on toast, and a full grilled breakfast.

Aperol Spritzes. Credit: Unsplash

The whole thing is washed down with bottomless drinks, including prosecco, Aperol spritzes, Bloody Marys and beer.

There are non-alcoholic cocktails, like a Tropical Fizz and a Woo Woo, on offer too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Each event has been designed in a Covid-safe way.

Read more: Abandoned theme park Camelot will reopen to the public – as a zombie experience

The Dancing Queen Brunches will be back at an as-yet unconfirmed location on February 6, April 24, July 10 and September 25.

There’ll also be a pair of Christmas specials on December 4 and 11.

Tickets are priced at £35 for an alcohol-free brunch, or £45 for alcoholic drinks.

ADVERTISEMENT

You can book your space here.

Featured image: Universal Pictures / Unsplash

Gigs & Nightlife

Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and D12 bring a night of West Coast classics to Manchester’s AO Arena

The Manc Audio The Manc Audio Ice Cube Cypress Hill D12 Manchester AO Arena review

Last night the AO arena found itself deep inside the West Coast, as Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and D12 gave Manchester the ‘High Rollers Tour experience’. The 90s and Noughties at its finest.

2000s rap heavyweights D12 opened the show for a Manchester crowd that began filling the AO Arena from the moment the doors opened.

The Detroit legends paid homage to their heyday years with Eminem performing tracks like ‘Lose Yourself’ and ‘Purple Pills’ to get the crowd rolling back the years.

Serving as a brilliant support act for headliners, they did plenty more than just warm up the once-freezing fans on a frosty night in Manchester and before we knew it, Cypress Hill stepped up to set the arena alight.

Sen Dog, B-Real, DJ Lord and Eric ‘Bobo’ Correa demonstrated exactly how and why they have stayed in the game for more than 32 years now.

cypress hill manchester gig review
Cypress Hill’s set was packed with plenty of nostalgia. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Lord commanded the turntables with a level of skill that’s becoming more of a rarity these days, intertwining with Bobo’s unfathomably fast and rhythmic percussion, all whilst B-Real and Sen Dog worked a lively crowd to tracks like ”Dr Greenthumb’, ‘Rock Superstar’ and ‘Hits from the Bong’.

However, the real reminder of just how crazy their sets can be at times came when they dropped the iconic ‘Insane In The Brain’. Old-school lyricism, marijuana-filled graphics on the big screen and a crowd clearly breathing just as much of the ‘atmosphere’ as B-Real himself, is was like Cali had been transported to Manny.

And then Ice Cube arrived. Chills, pun intended.

Proving to everyone in the building that he’s still got it and then some, his arrival at the Arena was his first return to the UK since 2011, and oh how he’s been missed.

Cube owned the stage; no dancers, no gimmicks — just himself and long-time partner in crime WC giving everyone a legendary recap of a legendary career all the way back to the 80s.

Ice Cube walked into Manchester’s AO Arena like he owned the place — and he did.

Read more:

From ‘Natural Born Killaz’ to ‘Why We Thugs’ and, of course, ‘Straight Outta Compton’, the duo showed precisely what an OG can really do. It felt like an honour to watch the N.W.A legend Crip-walking across the stage as a reel of film clips played behind him. The crowd were starstruck and rightly so.

One of the greatest MCs to ever do it even blessed us with arguably one of the greatest diss tracks of all time, ‘No Vaseline’, in which he kills off four rappers and a DJ — and makes sure nobody forgets. Mint.

As he asks the crowd if they want one more, he’s met with an inevitable roar of cheers and applause four times over and then, as he’s done a thousand times before, he signed off by letting everyone know that ‘It Was a Good Day’. Perfection.

It was a truly special performance for those inside the AO on Thursday night and one which we can guarantee no one will be forgetting any time soon. Still going 35 years strong, that was all about Ice Cube making a point of reminding everyone why he’s still one of the best in the game.

It certainly was.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Audio

Gigs & Nightlife

Inside One Eight Six as Manchester cocktail bar finally reopens two years after devastating New Year’s Eve fire

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inide One Eight Six as it prepares to open after a fire.

One Eight Six, the Manchester cocktail bar that was destroyed in a blaze on New Year’s Eve, is finally ready to reopen.

The stunning subterranean bar and live music venue has been closed since the very early hours of 2022, when a fire broke out shortly after the midnight countdown.

Terrifying CCTV footage at the time showed balloons across the ceiling catching fire and around 170 people fleeing the blaze.

It’s since been confirmed that the cause of the fire was real pine Christmas trees that were fastened to the ceiling, set alight by celebratory sparklers inside the bar.

Ever since that fateful night, One Eight Six has been quiet – until now.

The popular Deansgate bar is finally ready to quite literally rise from the ashes, having undergone an extensive refurbishment.

Its interior was completely destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire, but has been reborn better than ever before.

Customers will again enter the bar through a barbershop at street level, with in incredible twisting neon light feature hanging from the ceiling.

The stage is set for more late-night live music at One Eight Six in Manchester.
The stage is set for more late-night live music at One Eight Six in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Customers enter One Eight six through a barbershop on Deansgate.
Customers enter One Eight six through a barbershop on Deansgate. Credit: The Manc Group
One Eight Six's original interior was destroyed in the New Year's Eve fire
One Eight Six’s original interior was destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire. Credit: The Manc Group

Then after heading down the stairs you’ll find yourself in an art deco speakeasy, with the stage set for live music until the early hours.

Huge curved velvet booths in shades of pink and red will provide guests with a luxurious night out setting.

One Eight Six has installed opulent black marble floors and glowing light arches too – not to mention a giant ‘One Eight Six’ sign in mirrors.

Walls and pillars have been covered in even more mirrors to reflect the huge mirror ball and stage lights.

Founder Dean Mac said: “After nearly two years, we are finally allowed to be back on our feet giving the people of Manchester what they have been waiting so patiently for.

“Thank you again for sticking with us and supporting our journey this far. This new chapter of ONE EIGHT SIX will be better than ever. Same vibe. Same location. Just a whole lot sexier…”

It’s all looking pretty luxurious – just like before.

One Eight Six will officially open its doors this weekend on Deansgate, with bookings live here.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Gigs & Nightlife

free club nights Manchester Stream GM MainRoom Ramona tickets

Audio

StreamGM’s free underground club night series is coming to Ramona this December

Peter Hook and the Light mental health charity gig Star & Garter Manchester tickets

Audio

Peter Hook is hosting a charity gig and Q&A at an iconic Manchester pub to raise money for mental health

Parklife 2023

Audio

Parklife 2024 announces first headliner – and cheaper tickets

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches